Turkey lowers quake death toll to 51

08:52, March 09, 2010

Houses are destroyed during an earthquake in Turkish eastern province of Elazig, on March 8, 2010. The death toll from a 6.0-magnitude earthquake that shook east Turkey on Monday reached 51 and injured dozens, local government said, a lower toll than earlier reported. (Xinhua/Anadolu Agency)

The 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck east Turkey early Monday killed 51 and injured dozens, local government said, a lower toll than earlier reported.

Thirty-four people were being treated at several hospitals around the Karakocan town of the eastern Elazig Province, the epicenter of the earthquake, the Elazig governor's office was quoted by the semi-official Anatolia news agency as saying in a statement.

Rescue efforts ended on Monday afternoon as there were no more people trapped under rubbles, said the agency.

The quake struck Basyurt region of Karakocan town at a depth of 5 km at 4:32 a.m. local time (0232 GMT), said the Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute of Turkey's Bogazici University.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a message of support from the capital Ankara and expressed sorrows over the casualties, the newspaper reported.

Erdogan urged local officials to change the architectural structure in the quake-hit region, where most houses are made of sun-dried bricks.

Ambulance helicopters were sent to the quake zone, while the Turkish Red Crescent had dispatched experienced personnel and relief materials to the area, including 230 tents, 1,000 blankets and 20 prefabricated houses, the prime minister was quoted as saying.

He also warned people not to stay in damaged buildings, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

Altogether 27 aftershocks were reported after the quake and more are expected over the next hours and days, the Istanbul-based institute was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

With much of its territories lying atop the North Anatolian fault, Turkey is a quake-prone country. In 1999, more than 18,000 people were killed in two devastating earthquakes in the country.